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This focus on raw performance makes sense when comparing desktop workstations but for laptops it misses the point and I hope it goes out of fashion. My MacBook

This focus on raw performance makes sense when comparing desktop workstations but for laptops it misses the point and I hope it goes out of fashion. My MacBook Air runs Jetbrains + a couple containers just fine for almost a couple of work days on battery. Is this i9 faster? Yes but at a 6 hour battery life and 2.9Kg of weight it might as well be a desktop (just save money and buy/build a better desktop or get a console until PC parts are cheaper again). e: a cursory look suggests that laptop is also around $800 (AUD) more expensive than the (complete overkill for most) M1 it's comparing to, this is absolutely not a win.

vmception 5y ago
My M1 Max has insane battery life! I already take it for granted but I was just thinking about it the other day.
- MBCook 5y ago
  When I first got my M1 air I had it charged all the way and then had to put it aside for a few days. It wasn’t plugged in. I came back and it had lost like 3%. My Intel Mac it replaced would have used up most of not all of its battery. And that’s to say nothing of the crazy battery life in use.
BeefWellington 5y ago
> his focus on raw performance makes sense when comparing desktop workstations but for laptops it misses the point and I hope it goes out of fashion. > a cursory look suggests that laptop is also around $800 (AUD) more expensive than the (complete overkill for most) M1 it's comparing to, this is absolutely not a win. Regarding both points, the i9 laptop they tested has a 3080Ti in it, which would account for both the price difference and power draw just on its own. Even in CPU-only tests just having the discrete GPU on will chew power. The article is making a poor comparison here: The customer of the M1 Max is not going to be the same target customer of the MSI Raider series. These are not in any way comparable laptops. We'll have to see what happens when someone gets to test a business-targeted Dell or Lenovo system with the Alder Lake CPUs. The M1 will no doubt win the iGPU tests but power consumption will be a more interesting measure.
- dont__panic 5y ago
  Since there is an integrated GPU in the CPU as well, wouldn't CPU-only tests generally keep the discrete GPU turned off? If this thing doesn't effectively use an iGPU to keep power usage down, that's just as valid a criticism -- why spend so much wattage on a component you're not even using significantly?
caconym_ 5y ago
I am also in the "it may as well be a desktop" camp, though I am willing to accept that there may be people out there for whom this product makes sense. They may number in the low dozens, but surely they do exist. This is really Apple's own fault for talking up the performance of the M1 Pro/Max so much, but ultimately I don't think it will matter as long as they can keep pace with Intel and AMD. I expect I could count on one hand the number of people who were going to buy an M1 MBP but pivoted to one of these beasts after the 12-series benchmarks dropped. From my perspective, I could not be more pleased that my (relatively) light and svelte 14" M1 Max, which can go all day and more on a single charge, is even in the same league performance-wise as creaking behemoths like this.

vmception 5y ago

My M1 Max has insane battery life! I already take it for granted but I was just thinking about it the other day.

MBCook 5y ago
When I first got my M1 air I had it charged all the way and then had to put it aside for a few days. It wasn’t plugged in. I came back and it had lost like 3%. My Intel Mac it replaced would have used up most of not all of its battery. And that’s to say nothing of the crazy battery life in use.

BeefWellington 5y ago

> his focus on raw performance makes sense when comparing desktop workstations but for laptops it misses the point and I hope it goes out of fashion. > a cursory look suggests that laptop is also around $800 (AUD) more expensive than the (complete overkill for most) M1 it's comparing to, this is absolutely not a win. Regarding both points, the i9 laptop they tested has a 3080Ti in it, which would account for both the price difference and power draw just on its own. Even in CPU-only tests just having the discrete GPU on will chew power. The article is making a poor comparison here: The customer of the M1 Max is not going to be the same target customer of the MSI Raider series. These are not in any way comparable laptops. We'll have to see what happens when someone gets to test a business-targeted Dell or Lenovo system with the Alder Lake CPUs. The M1 will no doubt win the iGPU tests but power consumption will be a more interesting measure.

dont__panic 5y ago
Since there is an integrated GPU in the CPU as well, wouldn't CPU-only tests generally keep the discrete GPU turned off? If this thing doesn't effectively use an iGPU to keep power usage down, that's just as valid a criticism -- why spend so much wattage on a component you're not even using significantly?

caconym_ 5y ago

I am also in the "it may as well be a desktop" camp, though I am willing to accept that there may be people out there for whom this product makes sense. They may number in the low dozens, but surely they do exist. This is really Apple's own fault for talking up the performance of the M1 Pro/Max so much, but ultimately I don't think it will matter as long as they can keep pace with Intel and AMD. I expect I could count on one hand the number of people who were going to buy an M1 MBP but pivoted to one of these beasts after the 12-series benchmarks dropped. From my perspective, I could not be more pleased that my (relatively) light and svelte 14" M1 Max, which can go all day and more on a single charge, is even in the same league performance-wise as creaking behemoths like this.